Qualification Information

National 4 Skills for Work: Uniformed and Emergency Services is an introductory qualification. It develops the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for work in the industry.

The Course introduces candidates to the uniformed and emergency services: the Army, Merchant Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Royal Marines; and the Ambulance Service, Coastguard, Fire and Rescue and Police. The Course includes investigating the different uniformed and emergency services, and the roles and responsibilities of those working in a specific service team. Candidates will also investigate career opportunities in the uniformed and emergency services.

Central to the Course is developing the employability skills that are valued by employers in the uniformed and emergency services. These skills are embedded in all four Units. Candidates will have the opportunity to develop their employability skills through practical activities in real or simulated working environments, investigations and team-working activities. Candidates will also be involved in self-evaluation of these skills, seeking feedback from others about their skills and identifying areas of improvement whilst taking account of the feedback received.

Health, safety, fitness and wellbeing are important aspects when working in the uniformed and emergency services, and candidates will explore these aspects and participate in physical fitness practical activities. They will be introduced to the process of carrying out assessment of risk, and will investigate the skills required to assist others, such as communicating effectively.

Effective team-working is an essential element of working in uniformed and emergency services settings. Candidates will investigate the benefits of team-working, and the qualities of effective leadership and followership will be explored. External factors that may affect a team will be investigated. Candidates will also be given the opportunity to work as a member of a team to plan and carry out a task.

The Units of the Course have been designed to be delivered in an integrated way, and guidance on a suggested teaching pattern is given in the Course Specification.

At SCQF level 4, learners work alone or with others on straightforward tasks with support.

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Why deliver this qualification

This Course has been designed to provide candidates with opportunities to develop generic employability skills in the context of the uniformed and emergency services. The Course may also assist progression into further education and training/employment in the uniformed and emergency services sector. The sector includes the emergency services, armed forces and commercial uniformed organisations such as the Merchant Navy. The Course will allow candidates to start to develop the general and practical skills, knowledge and understanding and employability skills needed to work in the sector.

The relevant uniformed services for this Course are: the Army, Merchant Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The relevant emergency services for this Course are: the Ambulance Service, Coastguard, Fire and Rescue and Police.

This Course focuses on developing generic employability skills needed for success in the workplace through a variety of practical experiences in the uniformed and emergency services area.

There is considerable flexibility of topics and contexts to facilitate personalisation and choice for learners and centres — and to allow new and stimulating contexts for learning to be built into the Course.

It is anticipated that the Course will build on existing partnerships between schools, colleges of further education, employers and other training providers. Such partnerships will enable the Course to be delivered in a variety of appropriate learning environments with access to relevant teaching expertise.

Who does this qualification suit

The relevant uniformed services for this Course are: the Army, Merchant Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The relevant emergency services for this Course are: the Ambulance Service, Coastguard, Fire and Rescue and Police.

This qualification is suitable for a wide range of learners including:

pupils from mainstream schools or other education establishments

school leavers

adult returners to education

learners in employment who wish to enhance their career prospects

learners participating in 16+ programmes

college students wishing to develop their skills and knowledge in relation to Emergency Services

trainees participating in preparation for entering employment

individuals involved in voluntary activities

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre.

Progression

Successful learners may progress to:

Further education

vocational training and employment

Approval

Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority will have to come forward for approval and should contact SQA’s Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA’s general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Guide to Approval.

How to assess

There is no external assessment for this Course. Learners must successfully complete each Unit to achieve the Course.

Unit specifications provide detailed information on the Evidence Requirements for each Unit. The Unit Support Notes provide information on approaches to assessment for each Unit.

The Units are internally assessed by centres and externally verified by SQA.

Where can you take this course?

Location (UK only):

Qualification content and delivery tools

Qualification Structure

Group Award code C251 74 (24 SCQF credit points)

The Skills for Work Course in Uniformed and Emergency Services at SCQF level 4 consists of four mandatory Units.

For further information on the structure and units of this qualification please refer to the Course Specification document.

This Unit will be assessed by means of an open book assessment; performance evidence generated by participation in practical activities and a simulated risk assessment.

Uniformed and Emergency Services: Engaging with the Community

This Unit will be assessed through an investigation; an open book assessment and performance evidence generated by interviewing a member of the local community.

Uniformed and Emergency Services: Working in Teams

This Unit will be assessed through an investigation; performance evidence generated by participation in practical team activities and a candidate review of his/her team-working skills.

Each Unit will be supported by a National Assessment Bank (NAB) item which will provide an assessment package which exemplifies the national standard.

Experience of the workplace

Central to this Course is practical and experiential learning. It will be important for candidates to experience realistic workplace settings. This can be achieved through visits to workplaces, inviting visiting speakers and simulation exercises. In order to provide this range of environments, it is anticipated that the Course will be delivered by means of a partnership arrangement which may include school, college or another training provider.

Uniformed and Emergency Services Support Event

Please find the Presentations and handouts from Uniformed and Emergency Services event below: